Joel Golby

Joel Golby is a freelance journalist and has written extensively for VICE, The Guardian, Shortlist, and the BBC, his wry observation and naked self-reflection drawing a wide and devoted following. His debut book of essays is a collection of full-throated appreciations, elaborate theories, and unflinching recollections, and was published in the UK and US. It is also in development for a television comedy drama series.

Current publication:

FOUR STARS - Mudlark - 11th April 2024

The second book from acclaimed writer and journalist Joel Golby

How much of your life do you review? Books, TV, film, music – the reviewable things? Ever tried going a little further, reviewing the intangibles, the abstract, the ‘weird’: a houseplant; the sunlight on the pavement on a crisp spring day; being embarrassed; that strange wave you do at cars when they slow down at zebra crossings. A dead houseplant.

From almond croissants to the concept of life itself, Joel Golby embarks on a journey through modern living, leaving no stone unturned – no one thing unreviewed – to consider what it all really means; why we all care so much about opinions; and whether, deep down, it’s better to live a life that’s good rather than, well, five stars out of five.

Praise:

‘Funny, painful, relatable and honest. Full of the hidden depths and details that only Joel Golby can scavenge. I loved this book’ DOLLY ALDERTON

‘As the old saying goes, “There’s no one funnier than Joel Golby”’ GREG JAMES

‘Joel Golby at his best: darkly reflective, so, so funny, and life-affirming in quite an unhinged way. I loved it’ MONICA HEISEY

‘Joel can turn the most mundane aspects of life into something totally magnificent. I was laughing so much whilst reading this book I was shhh’d at on the Eurostar by a very stern woman – zero-star review for her’ AMELIA DIMOLDENBERG

‘As funny as you’d expect from Joel Golby, but also both moving and sincere. A joy to read’ BELLA MACKIE

‘Joel Golby’s writing induces full-on jealousy in me. He’s a horribly funny, silly, opinionated old cow, and yet his words are actually rather lovely to read’ JACK ROOKE

‘Nobody captures the torturous contradictions of being a sentient primate in the modern world quite like Joel Golby. FOUR STARS will make you laugh throughout, then it will rip your heart out, place it in front of you and say: “See. This is what I was writing about all along.” Fantastic. Hard recommend’ KONRAD KAY

‘High Fidelity for the generation who could never afford a shop’ ELLA RISBRIDGER

‘Whether it’s the ambitious construction and moving climax, emerging themes of millennials dealing with rudderless mortality or simply pound-for-pound laughs, I can’t really think of anything else like this book. And that’s a really good thing. Five stars’ OOBAH BUTLER

‘Funnier and more profound than a book has any business being. Just when you think you’ve got the measure of Joel’s writing – his bone-dry tone and acerbic wit – something shifts beneath you and, without warning, you are blinking hard and swallowing a big stupid lump in your throat over his description of a pint’ NATHAN FOAD